Tap for tap-dancing shoes



Jax-n.4, 1938., c. A-GosTAy ET .AL 2,104,179

TP FOR TA DANCING SHOES,

Filed May 6.l1936 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 PATENT OFFICE TAP FOR. TAP-DANCING SHOES Corrado Agosta and Frank Notarangelo, Bristol, Conn.

Application May 6, 1936, Serial No. 78,281

1 Claim.

This invention relates to taps for tap dancing shoes and the primary object thereof is to provide a tap which can be easily exed so as to permit selective dancing on either the toe, or

portions adjacent the part of the sole which register with the ball of the foot, or which further permits dancing on the entire tap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tap of this character which is of simple and economical construction, and one wherein the springs for flexibly connecting the toe and ball portion of the tap are' disposed between the tap and sole of the shoe and consequently protected thereby.

The invention has still further and other objects which Will be later set forth and manifested in the course of the following description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of the invention applied to a solev of the shoe, the latter shown in fragment;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the invention, detached from the shoe; and

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention a substantially U-shaped toe member I is provided, preferably shaped to conform to the outline of the toe of the sole of a shoe. Extending inwardly from the inner ends of the legs of the toe member I, are a pair of side members 2, which are of somewhat similar construction as shown.

The members I and 2 have openings 3 and 4 respectively, to receive `any suitable fastening means, such as rivets or the like, whereby the members may be rmly aflixed to the sole of the shoe.

It will be noted that the members 2 are dis- 0 posed at the sides of the sole of the shoe adjacent the part oi the latter which registers with the ball of the foot and are connected to the toe member I, by means of fiat springs 5, which are secured at their ends '6 by rivets I to the respec- (Cl. Sii-8.3)

tive members 2 and 3, so that the members 2 are flexibly connected to the member I.

Preferably the outer sides of the members I and 2 are `formed with reinforcing ribs 8 and 9 respectively having plane upper faces inclined 5 downwardly and inwardly and which strengthen the structure and increase its longevity.

With this construction it will be observed that the members 2 are freely flexible so that the dancer may, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 10 2, raise the toe member I and tap dance upon the members 2, or as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, may tap dance simultaneously upon the member I and the members 2.

Obviously also, when the ends of the members l5 I and 2 are in abutment, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the dancer may selectively tap dance on the toe member I to the exclusion of members 2.

The present invention thus provides a freely flexible structure, and thereby one which enables 20 the dancer to selectively resort to a variety of taps by manipulation of the feet.

What is claimed is:

A tap for tap dancing shoes, including a substantially U-shaped toe member having a plane 25 upper face inclined downwardly and inwardly from its outer edge and having each of its legs formed with a flat end face, an elongated side member alined with each leg of the toe member, and having a flat end face disposed in abutting 3o relation to the end face of said toe member, each of said elongated side members having plane upper faces inclined downwardly and inwardly from their outer edges and alined with the upper face of the toe member, and flat springs disposed 35 along said inclined upper faces of the toe and side members and beneath the outer edges of the latter for connecting the same together, so as to ypermit relative flexing movement between the toe and side members only in an upward direction. 1

CORRADO AGOSTA.

FRANK NOTARANGELO. 

